Envelope, shipping tube or shipping carton with holes

ABSTRACT

A container for shipping contents through the mail includes side surfaces joined at edges and meeting at comers, wherein the side surfaces and edges contain a plurality of holes that fluidly communicate from an inside of the container to an outside environment and wherein each comer where two or more of the edges meet is replaced by a hole that fluidly communicates from an inside of the container to an outside environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an envelope, shipping tube or shipping carton for sending items through the mail, wherein the envelope, tube or carton has a reduced ability to carry harmful materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to an envelope, shipping tube or shipping carton having holes in the sides and comers thereof.

[0002] Typically, envelopes, shipping tubes and shipping cartons are designed to create an impenetrable barrier between the inside of the container and the outside environment. However, due to the growing threat of the use of mail services to convey harmful materials, such as explosives and biological agents, it has become less desirable to have an impenetrable barrier between the outside and the inside of an item sent through the mail, and there is a need for envelopes and other containers wherein the contents can be checked easily. Moreover, there is a need for a container such as an envelope that can contain a letter or other item to be sent through the mail, but which is porous or leaky so that it cannot contain dangerous materials in powdered form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003]FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of one surface of an envelope in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0004]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mailing tube in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0005]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shipping carton in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to container such as an envelope, shipping tube or shipping carton for sending items through the mail, wherein the sides and comers and surfaces of the envelope, shipping tube or shipping carton contain holes, so that there is fluid communication between the inside of the container and the outside environment. In particular, the container contains a sufficient number of holes of a large enough size so that if a powdered material is placed into the container, it immediately falls out or leaks from the container, so that it is impossible or difficult to convey such a material in the container of the present invention. Moreover, the holes allow sufficient inspection of the interior of the container, so that harmful materials such as explosive devices or biological agents can be detected, either visually, or through sensing or sniffing devices that sample air from the interior of the container. Such a container, in addition to providing greater safety to the mail delivery system, would also provide greater assurance, because a recipient could easily confirm that a letter or package is safe.

[0007] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an envelope 10 that has holes 12 through a face 13 of the envelope (the reverse face, not shown, also has holes that may or may not match up with the holes on face 13 and also typically has a sealing flap, not shown, as in a conventional envelope), holes 14 along every edge 15, and holes 16 through every comer 17. Specifically, the envelope comprises a substantially flat receptacle made of paper or paper substitute material, the receptacle having two walls joined at their edges to form a pocket-like enclosure for enclosing a sheet-like article while it is being transported, wherein the walls and edges of the enclosure contain a plurality of holes that fluidly communicate from an inside of the receptacle to an outside environment. Also, for a rectangular or polygonal shaped envelope, every comer where two edges meet is replaced by a hole. Preferably, at least one of the walls contains a region that does not have holes, so that an address may be written on the outside surface. More preferably, the walls include a region 18 for the sendee address and a region 19 for the return address.

[0008] The envelope of the present invention may include any type of envelope used in mailing, including commercial envelopes, windowed envelopes, manila envelopes, etc., with the addition of holes as described herein.

[0009] The holes should be located so that the privacy of the sender and sendee are not unduly compromised. For example, the holes in the walls of the envelope could be in a vertical orientation, with respect to any writing contained in the envelope, so that it is more difficult to read the contents of writing contained in the envelope. That is, the holes would be elongated in the vertical dimension.

[0010] Preferably, the number, size and location of the holes are such that the receptacle is incapable of containing a powdered material. For example, if elongated holes are located along the sides or edges of the envelope and if every comer of the envelope is replaced by a hole, any powdered material such as poisons, anthrax spores, etc. would immediately leak out and contaminate the person trying to send such material. Moreover, a person receiving an envelope according to the present invention would be assured that it does not contain a powdered material. Further, the envelope the holes along the side edges should be large enough so that one can look inside the envelope to detect whether a letter contained inside has taped edges or whether the envelope contains any packet-like container.

[0011] Additionally, the holes on the envelope or container could be used to convey information, such as addresses, to an automated reader. This would be done by controlling the shape, size or orientation of the holes, in accordance with a predetermined scheme, much as computer punch cards were once used to convey and store information.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a shipping tube or box that hold a three-dimensional object for mailing. FIG. 2 shows a cylindrical shipping tube 100 having a major surface 110 with holes 112. The ends 114 of the shipping tube also have holes 116. Further, the edges 118 where the major surface 110 meets the ends 114 have holes 120 . FIG. 3 shows a shipping carton 200 having sides 210 that have holes 220. The sides meet at edges 230 that have holes 240, and there is a hole 250 through each comer 260 of the box. The reverse of the box is not shown, but is similar to the side shown and may include a sealable opening for inserting materials to be mailed into the box. In these embodiments, the tube or box contains holes on every side and edge and at every comer, so that it cannot hold a powdered material. Moreover, holes allow for the interior of the tube or box to be inspected.

[0013] The envelope, shipping tube or shipping carton of the present invention may be made by any conventional method of making envelopes, shipping tubes or shipping cartons, with the additional step of cutting holes in the material, which may be done at any convenient stage in the manufacturing process. The holes may be created by any conventional means, such as die cutting.

[0014] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for shipping contents through the mail, the container comprising side surfaces that are joined at edges and that meeting at comer, wherein the each of the side surfaces and edges contains a plurality of holes that fluidly communicate from an inside of the container to an outside environment and wherein each comer where two or more of the edges meet is replaced by a hole that fluidly communicates from an inside of the container to an outside environment.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein the number and location of the holes are such that the interior of the container may be inspected.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein the number, size and location of the holes are such that the container is incapable of containing a powdered material.
 4. An envelope comprising a substantially flat receptacle made of paper or paper substitute material, the receptacle having two walls joined at their edges to form a pocket-like enclosure for enclosing a sheet-like article while it is being transported, wherein the walls and edges of the enclosure contain a plurality of holes that fluidly communicate from an inside of the receptacle to an outside environment.
 5. The envelope of claim 4 wherein each comer of the receptacle where two edges meet is replaced by a hole that fluidly communicates from an inside of the receptacle to an outside environment.
 6. The envelope of claim 4 wherein at least one of the two walls of the receptacle contains at least one region that does not have holes, so that an address can be written on an outer surface thereon.
 7. The envelope of claim 4 wherein the number, size and location of the holes are such that the receptacle is incapable of containing a powdered material.
 8. The envelope of claim 4 wherein at least one edge of the receptacle has holes that are elongated in the direction of the edge.
 9. The envelope of claim 4 wherein the receptacle has a vertical and a horizontal dimension and wherein holes in the walls are elongated in the vertical dimension.
 10. The envelope of claim 4 wherein the shape, size or orientation of the holes at least one of the walls are controlled in accordance with a predetermined scheme to convey and store information to an automated reader.
 11. The envelope of claim 4 wherein the holes on the edges of the receptacle permit visual inspection of contents of the envelope. 